Ex-PL club chief: Man City come to realisation they're 'starting to lose fans' as Etihad announcement made

Manchester City should be praised for leading the way after they announced they would be freezing ticket prices for the third consecutive season.

That is the view of former Everton chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking to Football Insider, with Man City citing the financial pressures on supporters in their decision not to increase prices.

The move is opposite to that of many other Premier League clubs who are increasing ticket prices next season, with Liverpool fans protesting against their price hike against Crystal Palace last weekend.

Man City’s matchday revenue will increase next season regardless as the newly developed North Stand will house 7,000 extra seats inside the Etihad.

No time frame has been announced for when the North Stand will open to Man City supporters, with just three home games remaining this season.

Man City must be ‘commended’ for ticketing announcement

Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – believes Man City have done the right thing by freezing ticket prices.

Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast, Wyness states that the club had to do something to ensure they did not lose fans.

He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “This has got to be commended.

“It’s in a way sort of stealing a march on other clubs like Liverpool and I think Man City are actually doing the right thing. They understand that, in the scheme of things, they’ve probably reached the point where they were starting to lose fans, and they’re starting to see fan protests.

“We all know it’s been nicknamed the Emptyhad. And so they’ve got to do something, and they may have reached that marginal point when they start to lose fans if they go too much further.

“That may be a point that we’re all starting to see that we’re getting towards that level where it hits too much, particularly given things like fuel prices, supermarket prices right now and people are going to have to start making that very hard decision.

“Whereas before, they would always think the season ticket was the last thing to go. I’m afraid families sitting around the table right now might think, well, I’m afraid we’re prepared to let it go.”

Man City line up Pep Guardiola replacement

In the dugout, Pep Guardiola’s future as manager remains uncertain as the Spaniard could leave the club at the end of the season.

Guardiola’s contract at Man City does not expire until 2027, but the Spaniard has suggested that he could walk away a year early.

Former financial advisor at the Etihad, Stefan Borson, told Football Insider that Man City are in talks with Enzo Maresca over replacing Guardiola as manager.

Borson believes Guardiola could leave if Man City win the Premier League title this season, with his side currently three points behind Arsenal with a game in hand.

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